Bead jamming or crimping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A machine for crimping tire bead rings in which an inner die member has grooves for holding the bead rings in the area of the bead splices and an upper die member engages the outer surface of the bead rings in that area. The die members are compressed with sufficient force for a sufficient period of time so that the strands of the bead rings are held together by the insulating material around the strands in the area of the bead splices. The side portions of the grooves control the spreading of the bead rings and may be flared to compress and then release the bead rings. The grooves of the inner die member may have movable inserts for ejecting the bead rings. The upper die member may also include grooves in mating engagement with the grooves of the inner die member for enclosing the outer portions of the bead rings at the splice area and provide for release of the bead rings after crimping.

This invention relates generally, as indicated, to apparatus forpreparing bead rings for assembly in a tire carcass. The bead rings havebeen made by winding strands of a high strength, relativelynonextensible, material such as wire coated with an insulating materialwhich may be rubber. Then it has been the practice to wrap the beadstrands with a suitable material such as fabric coated with rubber. Thewrapping process has been slow and cumbersome and the machinery used forwrapping requires a substantial amount of maintenance so that the costof wrapping bead rings is substantial. Also the strings from thewrapping fabric have caused defects in tires.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, there is provided a beadcrimping apparatus for a bead ring having strands coated with anelastomeric material and coiled in a plurality of convolutions with theinside ends of the strands positioned at the radially inner surface ofthe ring and the outside ends of the strands positioned at the radiallyouter surface of the ring, said inside ends and said outside ends beinglocated for simultaneous engagement by an upper die member and an innerdie member having an inner groove with a generally cylindrical baseportion and radially extending side portions, means to move said innerdie member and said upper die member together in mating engagement forcompressing said strands between said side portions and against saidbase portion and means for separating said inner die member and saidupper die member for removal of said ring from said groove.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is provided amethod of crimping a bead ring having strands coated with an elastomericmaterial and coiled in a plurality of convolutions with the inside endsof the strands positioned at the radially inner surface of the ring andthe outside ends of the strands positioned at the radially outer surfaceof the ring comprising hanging said bead ring over an inner groove ofsaid inner die member, compressing said coated strands in said innergroove between the side portions of said groove by pressing an upper diemember against said bead ring, compressing said inside ends and saidoutside ends of the strands against said bead ring by movement of saidupper die member and said inner die member together, and removing saidbead ring from said inner groove of said inner die member.

To acquaint persons skilled in the arts most closely related to thepresent invention, certain preferred embodiments thereof illustrating abest mode now contemplated for putting the invention into practice aredescribed herein by and with reference to the annexed drawings forming apart of the specification. The embodiments shown and described hereinare illustrative and, as will become apparent to those skilled in thesearts, can be modified in numerous ways within the spirit and scope ofthe invention defined in the claims hereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention withparts being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 withparts being broken away.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line3--3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3 with the die members compressing the beadrings.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in FIG.3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIG.4.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a modification of the apparatus shown inFIG. 1 with parts being broken away.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the lower die member taken along theline 8--8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a beadcompressed by a rib of the upper die between the radially extending sideportions in the groove of the lower die.

Referring to the drawings and especially FIGS. 1 and 2, a bead crimpingapparatus 10 representing a preferred embodiment of the invention isshown. The apparatus 10 includes a frame 12 having vertical members 13which may be fastened to the floor by suitable means and an uppersupport member 14 and a lower support member 16 mounted on the verticalmembers. A sliding support member 18 is disposed between the uppersupport member 14 and lower support member 16 and is mounted on thevertical members 13 for sliding movement in a vertical direction. An aircylinder 20 is mounted on the upper support member 14 and has a pistonrod 22 connected to the sliding support member 18 for moving it towardand away from the lower support member 16.

An inner die member 24 is mounted on the lower support member 16 and hasa curved surface 26 with a curvature of substantially the same radius asthe curvature of bead rings 28 which are hung over the inner die member24 for crimping. An upper die member 30 is mounted on the slidingsupport member 18 and has a curved lower surface 32 which has acurvature conforming to the curvature of the upper surface 26 of theinner die member 24.

A plurality of spaced inner grooves 34 are positioned in spaced-apartrelationship along the curved upper surface 26 of the inner die member24. A plurality of outer grooves 36 are positioned in spacedrelationship along the curved lower surface 32 of the upper die member30. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner grooves 34 and outer grooves 36 are inalignment so that upon closing of the die the bead rings 28 will beenclosed in cavities, portions of which are in the inner grooves andportions of which are in the outer grooves.

Preferably each of the inner grooves 34 has a generally cylindrical baseportion 38 and radially extending side portions 40. The side portions 40are flared outwardly at a suitable angle X relative to a planeperpendicular to the axis of the curved upper surface 26 which may be inthe range of from about 5 to 15 degrees and in this embodiment is about10 degrees. Accordingly the width of the base portion 38 of each of theinner grooves 34 is less than the width of the inner grooves at thecurved upper surface 26. In the embodiment shown the width of the baseportion 38 is about 0.260 inches and the width of the inner grooves 34at the upper surface 26 is about 0.340 inches. The depth of each of theinner grooves 34 is about 0.160 inches.

Each of the outer grooves 36 has a generally cylindrical base portion 42and side portions 44. The side portions 44 are flared inwardly at asuitable angle Y relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of thecurved lower surface 32 which is preferably from about 30 to 50 degreesand in this embodiment is about 38 degrees. The width of the baseportion 42 of each of the outer grooves 36 is substantially the same asthe width of the base portion 38 of each of the inner grooves 34 and thewidth of the outer grooves 36 at the curved lower surface 32 issubstantially the same as the width of the inner grooves at the curvedupper surface 26. Preferably the depth of the inner grooves 34 isgreater than the depth of the outer grooves 36 with the depth of theouter grooves being from about one-quarter to one-half the depth of theinner grooves. In the present embodiment the depth of the outer grooves36 is 0.050 inches and the depth of the inner grooves 34 is 0.160inches.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the bead rings 28 are hung on the inner diemember 24 in the inner grooves 34 and have strands 46 of high strengthrelatively nonextensible material such as wire wound in coils with aninsulating material such as rubber 48 around the strands. As shown inFIG. 5, an inside end 50 of each of the strands 46 is positioned at theradially inner surface of each of the bead rings 28 and an outside end52 of each of the strands is positioned at the radially outer surface ofeach of the bead rings. The inner die member 24 and upper die member 30have a length which is greater than the distance between the inside end50 and outside end 52 of each of the strands 46. In the presentembodiment the inner grooves 34 and outer grooves 36 are 71/2 incheslong with a 7 inch radius for crimping 4-strand, 5-turn beads built to adiameter of 14.12 inches with an insulation of 0.56 gauge.

In operation of the bead crimping apparatus 10, the sliding supportmember 18 is lifted to the open position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by theair cylinder 20. Each of the bead rings 28 is hung in one of the innergrooves 34 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 with the inside end 50 and outsideend 52 of each of the strands positioned within the length of the innerdie member 24 and upper die member 30. The air cylinder 20 is thenactuated to lower the sliding support member 18 with the upper diemember 30 into engagement with the bead rings 28 as shown in FIGS. 4 and6 with sufficient pressure to crimp the ends 50 and 52 and adhere thestrands 46 together.

In the present embodiment, the bead rings 28 are jammed together for twoto three seconds with one hundred pounds per square inch pressure.During this compression, radially inner portions of the bead rings 28are compressed in the inner grooves 34 and radially outer portions ofthe bead rings are compressed in the outer grooves 36. The inside end 50and outside end 52 of each of the strands 46 are compressed against thebody of each of the bead rings 28 and the sides of the bead rings arecompressed by engagement with the flared side portions 40 and 44 of theinner grooves 34 and outer grooves 36 to crimp and adhere the strandstogether. After jamming pressure on the bead rings 28 for apredetermined time the air cylinder 20 is actuated and the slidingsupport member 18 and upper die member 30 are moved upwardly away fromthe inner die member 24 attached to the lower support member 16. Thebead rings 28 remain in the inner grooves 34 of the inner die member 24;however because of the flared side portions 40 the bead rings may beremoved easily by hand or other means from the grooves prior to beingbuilt into the tire carcasses in a normal tire building process.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a modification is shown in which an upperdie member 54 and an inner die member 56 of a modified construction aremounted on the sliding support member 18' and the lower support member16'. The inner die member 56, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 8 and 9,may be of a laminated construction and have plates 58 with a curvedsurface 59 of a larger diameter sandwiched between plates 60 with acurved surface 61 of a smaller diameter providing inner grooves 62 forreceiving the bead rings 28'. Bead ring ejector plates 64 are slidablymounted in the plates 60 for vertical movement into engagement with thebead rings 28'. Lifters 66 slidably mounted in the lower support member16' are engageable by a cam means such as cam surface 68 on piston 69actuated by pressure in cylinder 70. The cam surface 68 is movable intoengagement with the lifters 66 in sequence and thereby the bead rings 28are ejected one at a time from the inner grooves 62 of the inner diemember 56.

The upper die member 54 may also be of a construction having a pluralityof curved ribs 72 mounted in spaced relation thereon. The ribs 72 have agenerally cylindrical, radially inner striking die surface with a widthapproximately equal to the width of the inner grooves 62 of the innerdie member 56 so that upon closing of the die with the bead rings 28'hanging in the inner grooves, the ribs 72 will compress the bead ringsin the grooves and against the plates 60 of the inner die member 56. Asshown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the curved surface 59 of each of the plates 58of the inner die member 56 may be chamfered to provide a tapered entryportion for each of the inner grooves 62 to facilitate hanging of thebead rings 28' on the inner die member and guiding them into the innergrooves.

In operation of this modification, the bead rings 28' are hung over theinner die member 56 in the inner grooves 62 in the open position of theapparatus. The air cylinder 20' is then actuated and moves the upper diemember 54 down against the inner die member 56 with the ribs 72compressing the strands 46' between the plates 58 and against thesurface 61 of the plates 60 causing the strands to adhere to one anotherin the elastomeric material of the bead rings 28'. After compression ofthe bead rings 28' for a predetermined period of time at a predeterminedpressure the upper die member 54 is moved upwardly by the air cylinder20' to the position shown in FIG. 7. The piston 69 is then moved bypressure in the cylinder 70 causing the cam surface 68 to move to theleft as shown in FIG. 7 to engage the lifters 66 which in turn push theejector plates 64 upwardly and carry the bead rings 28' out of the innergrooves 62. This action further presses the sides of the bead rings 28'against the surfaces of the plates 58 causing further crimping andadherence of the strands 46' together in preparation for use of the beadring in the manufacture of tires.

It will be seen that in this modification and in the embodiment of FIGS.1 through 6, the compression of the bead rings 28 and 28' isaccomplished under controlled conditions. The compression of the beadrings 28 and 28' is controlled by the side portions 40 and 44 of theinner grooves 34 and outer grooves 36 or by the surfaces of the plates58. It has been found that bead rings jammed or compressed in thismanner do not require wrapping and thereby the necessity for expensivewrapping machines which are hard to maintain is eliminated. Also thestep of cutting strings at the edges of the wrapping material iseliminated. Accordingly with this method and apparatus substantialsavings in manufacture and improvements in tire quality are obtained.

While certain representatives embodiments and details have been shownfor the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bead crimping apparatus for a bead ring havingstrands coated with an elastomeric material and coiled in a plurality ofconvolutions with the inside ends of the strands positioned at theradially inner surface of the ring and the outside ends of the strandspositioned at the radially outer surface of the ring, comprising anupper die member and an inner die member of said bead crimpingapparatus, said inner die member having an inner groove with a generallycylindrical base portion and radially extending side portions, means tomove said inner die member and said upper die member together forsimultaneous mating engagement with said inside ends and said outsideends and for compressing said strands between said side portions andagainst said base portion and means for separating said inner die memberand said upper die member for removal of said ring from said groove. 2.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said upper die member having an outergroove with a generally cylindrical base portion and radially extendingside portions, said outer groove having a depth less than the thicknessof said ring and said inner groove having a depth less than thethickness of said ring whereby said coated strands are compressedbetween said side portions of said inner groove and said side portionsof said outer groove upon said movement together of said inner diemember and said upper die member in mating engagement.
 3. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, said side portions of said inner groove and saidside portions of said outer groove being flared toward the space betweensaid inner die member and said upper die member to facilitatecompression of said coated strands between said side portions andremoval of said bead ring from said grooves.
 4. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 2, said depth of said outer groove being less than said depth ofsaid inner groove for retention of said ring in said inner die memberduring the separating of said inner die member and said upper die memberwhereby said bead ring removal from said inner die member isfacilitated.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said outer groovehaving a depth in the range of from one-quarter to one-half the depth ofsaid inner groove.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, the width of saidbase portion of the outer groove being substantially the same as thewidth of said base portion of said inner groove and the width of saidinner groove at the surface of said inner die member being substantiallythe same as the width of said outer groove at the surface of said upperdie member.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said inner die memberhaving a plurality of inner grooves adjacent said inner groovepositioned in side-by-side spaced relationship on said inner die member,each of said inner grooves having a generally cylindrical base portionand radially extending side portions for simultaneous crimping of aplurality of bead rings.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, said innerdie member having a plurality of plates fastened together in a laminatedconstruction.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said upper die memberhaving a rib with a generally cylindrical radially inner striking diesurface and a width substantially the same as the width of said innergroove for movement into said inner groove of said inner die member. 10.Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, said inner groove having a width at thesurface of said inner die member greater than the width of said rib anda flared entry portion for guiding the bead ring and said rib into saidinner groove.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said inner die memberhaving a bead ring ejector means for pushing said crimped bead ring outof said inner groove.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, said beadring ejector means comprising a radially movable ejector plate slidablymounted for bead ring lifting movement in said inner groove. 13.Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, said ejector plate being raised by cammeans engageable with a lifter positioned under said ejector plate. 14.Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, said cam means being actuated by apiston and cylinder mechanism after movement of said rib into saidgroove to crimp said bead ring.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7,said inner die member having a plurality of ejector plates slidablymounted for bead ring lifting movement into said inner grooves, cammeans engageable in sequence with lifters positioned under said ejectorplates to eject bead rings in sequence from said grooves.